Southern Illinois News

Men's Basketball Snaps Three-Game Skid Behind Bultman's 36

 McKendree University men's basketball (7-8, 3-5 GLVC) goes 60/50/90 in a 82-74 home victory over the Maryville Saints, snapping a three-game skid. McKendree fired over 60-percent from the field, 50-percent from beyond the arc, and over 90-percent from the charity stripe in the conference win at the Harry M. Statham Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. The Bearcats offense was led by the duo of senior guard Bryson Bultman and junior forward Milos Vicentic, which combined for 59 points on 18 made field goals while going 15-15 from the free thrown line in the outing. McKendree hosts its next contest on January 19 at home against Lewis at 7:30 PM. 

The 59-point combo effort was headlined by Bultman's 36-point day, his 12th double-figure scoring game of the season, while Vicentic added his 13th double-figure game of the year. the pair shot 100-percent from the free thrown line while making eight threes. The senior Bultman also grabbed eight boards with four assists while the junior Vicentic collected four rebounds on the day. Five other Bearcats also added scoring with senior guard Eric Powell II adding nine and sophomore combo guard Caleb Zurliene put up seven of his own. 

McKendree took a 12-point led into the intermission, leading 40-28, but the first half proved to be no easy stretch. The first 20 minutes of the game was a battle of bursts from both squads as there were numerous lead changes. McKendree grabbed the largest lead of the first half as the Bearcats put up their 12-point net with just under a minute remaining. The feat began to take flight with under six minutes remaining when McKendree took a six-point lead, 28-22, off a pair of Bultman three-pointers. Both Powell and Vicentic got in on the fun during the latter stages of the first half, while freshman guard Malcolm Davis capped things off with a three-pointer with 56 seconds remaining. McKendree shot over 66-percent from beyond the arc and just shy of 62-percent from the field during the initial 20-minute period while holding the Saints to 2-12 on three-pointers and just 35-percent from the field overall. 

The second half was a continuation of the first half battle, as the Saints looked to gain ground following the Bearcat run to end the first half. Maryville shot over 50-percent on threes during the second half but McKendree fired just under 60-percent from the field overall, keeping the Saints at bay. The Bearcats put up a consistent lead between eight and 11 points during the opening second half stages but Maryville fought to cut the hosting-Bearcats' lead down to just two points with five and a half left in the game and went back and forth with the Bearcats for the next two minutes.

McKendree pushed its lead up again behind a Vicentic three-pointer and a Bultman jumper in the paint. McKendree held on late against with stifling defensive pressure while Bultman added the final pair of points with two free throws. 

Original source can be found here